Donald B. Keck, a prominent figure in the field of optical fiber communications, has been appointed as the University of Arkansas’ 2026 Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecturer. This event will be hosted by the Department of Physics within the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Keck is scheduled to present his lecture titled “Through A Glass Brightly: REFLECTIONS” at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, in Hillside Auditorium 0202. The lecture is complimentary and accessible to the public.
Julia Kennefick, chair of the Department of Physics, expressed enthusiasm about hosting Dr. Keck, stating, “His work demonstrates that fundamental science matters. Through careful study of light-matter interactions, his co-invention of low-loss fiber optic cable laid the groundwork for the digital age, providing the infrastructure that now supports global internet traffic. His journey will serve as an inspiration to our faculty and students.”
Currently, Dr. Keck is a professor at the University of South Florida Institute for Advanced Discovery and Innovation. He previously served as vice president and executive director of research at Corning Inc. Keck holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in physics from Michigan State University. In 1968, he began his career at Corning, working closely with Robert Maurer. Over the following two years, Keck, along with Maurer and Peter Schultz, made groundbreaking contributions to fiber optics. Their innovations in materials and processing significantly enhanced the transparency of fused silica and doped fused silica glasses by 100 orders of magnitude. This crucial development established optical fiber as the primary communication medium, surpassing traditional copper wire—an advancement that facilitated the growth of the Internet. Today, more than 7 billion kilometers of optical fiber, derived from their inventions, span the globe.
Recognised as a pioneer in optical fiber communications, Dr. Keck holds 38 patents and has published over 150 papers on optical fibers and related fields. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. His accolades include the National Medal of Technology awarded by President Clinton, induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the John Tyndall Award from The Optical Society (OSA) and IEEE/Photonics Society. He has also received the U.S. Department of Commerce American Innovator Award, the SPIE Technology Achievement Award, and Laurin Publishing’s Distinction in Photonics Award. Furthermore, he holds an honorary doctorate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is an honorary member of OSA, as well as a fellow of the IEEE. Dr. Keck has also served as editor of the IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology and has contributed generously to the OSA community.
Individuals interested in exploring the advancements in optical fibers that contributed to the digital age are encouraged to attend the lecture on Tuesday, April 14, and visit the Department of Physics website for more information.
About the Maurer Distinguished Lecture Series: Established in 1995, the Maurer Distinguished Lecture Series honours Robert D. Maurer, a distinguished alumnus of the Department of Physics. A native of Arkadelphia, Maurer earned his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Arkansas in 1980.